Michigan St.'s Devin Thomas may be the first receiver taken.Yesterday, I analyzed the options that teams with picks 1-8 in the upcoming have, and what talented prospects they’re most likely to pin their hopes and dreams on.

Today, I give a rundown of picks 9-16, starting and ending with offensively-productive who need help on defense to enhance their playoff chances, the at #9, and the at #16.

9. : We know they’re going defense, but what direction will they go? The Bengals need a lot of pieces on defense, to say the least.

We know they need a defensive tackle, as shown by their failed pursuit of Shaun Rogers. We know they need linebackers, because they certainly don’t have enough of those. They also need a new free safety, after Madieu Williams bolted for big bucks in Minnesota.

I put Dorsey in at #3 to Atlanta, so that means Sedrick Ellis will be making the trip from SoCal to Cincy. There is, however, a chance that they could pass on Ellis in favor of his teammate .

My Choice: Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC
Secondary Choice: , LB, USC

Even though they nabbed Jonathan Vilma in a trade with the Jets, the Saints need more linebackers. Rivers solidified his status as a top-10 worthy pick with an impressive showing at USC’s Pro Day last week.

If they don’t go for Rivers, then cornerback is an option. They did sign Randall Gay recently, but they could use all the help they can get to upgrade a secondary that was one of the league’s worst in 2007.

My Choice: , LB, USC
Secondary Choice: , CB, South Florida

11. : Receiver or bust for the Bills? Many have the Bills penciled in as taking a receiver early, given that they need a big, athletic receiver to complement the speedy Lee Evans. Malcolm Kelly has been the favorite to go at #11 for a while, but his stock has fallen recently. The other candidate to go at #11 is someone that the Bills are reportedly interested in, Michigan St.’s , whose stock is going in the opposite direction as Kelly’s.

However, they also need to address depth in the secondary, and they won’t have a shortage of options.

My Choice: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee St.
Secondary Choice: , WR, Michigan St.

12. : Many needs, many solutions. The Broncos have several directions that they can go with the #12 pick.

First, there’s offensive line, where and should be on the board where they’re on the clock.

Then there’s linebacker, but if Rivers is off the board, then they’re better off waiting until the second round, where there’s not a shortage of options available.

There’s also defensive tackle, but if Sedrick Ellis and are both off of the board, then there aren’t any other viable, non-reaching options at that juncture.

Then, there’s wide receiver. Javon Walker was cut, and I’m not really sure if Keary Colbert is really what Broncos fans had in mind as a replacement. But, that’s a need that can be addressed later, along with linebacker and defensive tackle, so I think they’ll give Jay Cutler some protection by adding his former teammate in the Music City.

My Choice: , OT, Vanderbilt
Secondary Choice: , WR, Michigan St.


13. : Lucky at #13? For a team that may be in the market for a new running back, left tackle, or defensive end, the Panthers are in a pretty good position, because there should be great prospects at each position right there for the taking at #13.

They could go for if is off the board, but some think that Otah may be better off on the right side instead of on the left, which is where he played at Pitt. But, Kansas’ Anthony Collins or USC’s Sam Baker could be there in round 2.

is a possibility, because he’d provide a great 1-2 punch with DeAngelo Williams, but after spending the 27th pick on a running back only two years ago, Marty Hurney might be hesitant to spend an even higher pick on one, even though Mendenhall would certainly be worth it.

If they don’t go for Otah or Mendenhall, then their likely choice is Florida’s Derrick Harvey, who’s the third-best DE prospect behind Chris Long and Vernon Gholston. Harvey’s put on the necessary weight to stay at DE in the NFL, and would be a natural successor to Mike Rucker when he retires, and be an immediate boost to a pass rush that isn’t as feared as it once was.

My Choice: Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida
Secondary choice: , RB, Illinois

14. : Offense! Offense! The Bears need to address multiple positions on offense.

They could also elect to go for a receiver like Thomas or Limas Sweed, because the cupboard is a little bare in that area, after the departures of Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian. They did sign Brandon Lloyd and bring back Marty Booker, but I don’t think either of them are the big-play receiver they need. Devin Hester will apparently get more opportunities to take his big-play return skills to the passing game, after making 20 catches last season, and he could very well be that guy, but that’s an unknown at this point.

The Bears could also very well go for Brian Brohm, but I think they’re more likely to wait on selecting a QB, with their options being anyone from Chad Henne in the second to Kevin O’Connell or Colt Brennan in the fourth, if they’re confident in Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton to get the job done the next season or two while the new guy develops.

It also wouldn’t be a surprise if they nab , because their rushing attack was anything but spectacular last season, as they averaged a mere 3.1 yards per carry.

But, the offensive line needs some upgrading, and one of the hottest rising prospects on the O-line is Virginia’s behemoth guard Branden Albert, who’s being touted as a future tackle in the NFL. Albert may well not even be available at #14, because there are rumblings that the Chiefs could take him at #5. If that does happen, then would be a good backup plan if they choose to go for a lineman.

My Choice: Branden Albert, G, Virginia
Secondary Choice: , OT, Pittsburgh

15. : Given that the Lions’ defense is one of the things that plagued their chances to fulfill Jon Kitna’s prediction of a 10-win season, linebacker or corner are two areas that must improve in 2008.

However, after acquiring Leigh Bodden in the Shaun Rogers trade and signing Brian Kelly, corner might be something they don’t address until the second or third, where they have two picks, including the one that they got from the Browns in the Rogers deal.

That leaves linebacker as the likely defensive option in the first, but would they go for Dan Connor or this high? They need a couple of linebackers, but could go for Curtis Lofton in the second and another one later. Scott Wright of Countdown thinks they’ll go for Mayo, who he has rated higher than Penn St.’s Dan Connor as the top inside linebacker.

I have the Vol star going to the 49ers at #29, but going 14 spots higher might not be as much of a reach as some might think, because he’s coming off of a monster junior season, and impressed greatly in workouts at the combine and at Tennessee’s Pro Day.

But for me, at this point it comes down to offense, and no, not receiver, as much as Matt Millen may be tempted to. With the release of Kevin Jones and T.J. Duckett’s departure to Seattle, what do they have left? There’s Tatum Bell, but how much confidence do they have in him to nail down the starting job?

With that in mind, snapping up Mendenhall (or Jonathan Stewart) is a no-brainer. I give the edge to the regional guy, who as I said above, could wind up staying in-state if the Bears elect to take him one pick earlier.

My Choice: , RB, Illinois
Secondary Choice: , LB, Tennessee

16. : Cornerback or running back? The Cardinals took a big leap forward in Ken Whisenhunt’s first season, going 8-8. While offensive production isn’t really a question mark, keeping teams from racking up the points against them will be the difference in how serious of a contender they’ll be in the NFC West in ‘08.

The place of biggest concern is in the secondary, where Rod Hood and Antrel Rolle combined for 10 interceptions, five of which they returned for touchdowns, but there were quite a few big plays given up. Rolle is moving to free safety, so that opens up a spot at corner for someone like Talib, or in-state star Cason, who’s been my pick at #16 for a little while.

They may well go for a running back like Stewart to make for a good 1-2 punch with Edgerrin James and to have an insurance policy/successor for the Edge.

My Choice: , CB, Arizona
Secondary Choice: , CB, Kansas

Tomorrow, I will analyze picks 17-25, and I’ll be finishing up on Friday with picks 26-31 before posting my updated mock draft.

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